Former Cuero running back receives two-year sentence

CUERO - Trent Jackson went through spring drills with the Blinn College football team. But the former Cuero running back isn't playing football this fall.

Jackson, 19, is headed to state prison for two years and will be paying a fine of $8,718.56.

Jackson was sentenced by a DeWitt County jury on Wednesday, a day after being found guilty of felony forgery of a financial instrument.

The seven-woman, five-man jury needed only five minutes to decide the sentence, which was the maximum allowable.

The fine matched the total amount of the forged checks Jackson cashed at a Cuero bank in August of 2011.

"I appreciate the jury's work and verdict," said DeWitt County District Attorney Michael Sheppard, who prosecuted the case. "It was the only thing to do. I'm saddened that he has to go to prison for two years, but this will give him an opportunity to straighten out his life. He was headed on an absolutely destructive course and I hope this helps."

Jackson's attorney, John Herrick of San Antonio, declined to comment, but argued for probation.